Halema is no more perceived a disabled

People with disabilities are among the poorest and most socially excluded groups in Afghanistan. Every fifth family have one individual with a disability. Women with disabilities face an additional set of challenges in terms of movement, restrictions to socialize with people, ability to make decisions or participate in public life. Most critically, not having an income of their own forces many of them to rely on their families.

Halema Rahmani, 23, lives in Mazar city of Balkh Province. She has disability in her leg. Her family perceived her disabled and did not trust her abilities before she come to learn tailoring at SCA’s vocational training center one year ago. She has started her journey with big dreams. After 8 months training, she is now a tailor master instructing other girls with disability who have come to the SCA’s center for learning tailoring.

“SCA has been the biggest supporter in my life. They did not only helped me physically by providing me with an artificial leg, my self-esteem has also grown here by learning tailoring,” says Halema. “I’m no longer considered a disabled person by my family and community. My family’s trust on my abilities has also allowed me to pursue my higher education,”

Halema is doing bachelor in Law and Political science with an aim to particularly advocate for the rights of people with disability in future. She says everyone must rely on themselves in life. “I even support my family now through my salary I receive from SCA. I want to be a role model for other girls who do not trust their abilities, so that they also feel themselves prosperous and lucky like me.”

In 2019, SCA conducted 15 vocational trainings for 104 persons with disabilities in three provinces of Balkh, Jawzan and Samangan under its Disability Program run by Mazar Regional Management Office. These trainings prepare and equip students for different careers such as Mobile repairing, Tailoring, Broom weaving, Baby Set and Kitchen Set sewing. Duration of these trainings ranges from eight to nine months and each trainee receive a toolkit upon graduation.